THE LATEST SPECULATION ON LUONGO’S FUTURE

The old interweb is alive with reports that Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo has refused to waive his no-trade clause to any place other than his old team, the Florida Panthers.

While it’s certainly true Luongo would look kindly on a return to South Florida, and Canucks GM Mike Gillis most certainly knows that, it’s far too early in the process to suggest he won’t go here or there, with here or there obviously including the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Luongo is a pragmatic, intelligent man. He knows if he wants out of Vancouver, and that’s certainly his preference, he can’t close the door on too many places because, right now anyway, there aren’t too many places that want or can afford him and his contract.

Florida and Toronto appear to have the greatest interest in Luongo, but not so great that either team is at this point willing to meet what they say is a steep asking price from Vancouver.

Florida won’t give up a blue-chip prospect and their offer most certainly includes a contract they’d like to get rid of.

The Leafs just think the current asking price is exorbinant and do not consider themselves to be in the mix until it’s lowered.

8 Responses to THE LATEST SPECULATION ON LUONGO’S FUTURE

I think that other than sending him down and buring his contract in the minors there is the real possibility tha the Vancouver Canucks will completely seperate ties with Luongo and his contract. There may be a buyout clause once a new CBA is negotiated with the league. I doubt that this will happen since Vancouver can get a 2nd or 3rd for him atleast. I still see him in Toronto for maybe Komisarek and a 3rd. If not than we might end up with Tim Thomas.

I think Luongo would be stupid to go to Florida. Their future no.1 goaltender in Markstrom almost made the team this year, and may have another good shot next and become the full no.1 the year after that, and Luongo will be run out by Markstrom in Florida just like he is being run out in Vancouver by Schneider.

It would not be wise for him to go to a team that is going through a rebuilding process with depth in goal. The way I see it, veteran players are wanted on rebuilding teams, but there is no real future for them there. This new NHL is a young mans world.

I think Florida would LOVE to have Luongo but in two years time he may be traded. He will only be there to help keep the team successful and train his replacement. Which unfortunately is true, unless Markstrom for some reason never reaches his potential, then we have a whole new situation, and though it’s cruel, if Luongo goes to Florida he has to hope Markstrom doesn’t out perform him like Schneider did.

I think it’s almost fate that Toronto would be the best option for Luongo, on a team that lacks goaltending depth and would be guaranteed to be the no.1 for a long time because there is a slim chance that goaltender in this organization out performs him.

Though I am not a fan of Luongo…..for the leafs, there really is no choice.

There is a choice for the Leafs. Let Reimer play 60 games a year, let him get his experience, let us tank, get high picks and go forward from there. That’s not necessarily bad. If Reimer fails, we get rid of him and let Scrivens/draft goalie take over.

But there isn’t a choice for Burke. If they tank or even miss the playoffs again, Burke will be gone. He knows that, he’s not dumb. This is why I think that the Leafs will get Luongo, it’s Burke’s last chance.

Call me naive, but I don’t believe that Burke would make a move solely to save his job. He’s too proud, and he knows his name would be cursed in TO until the end of time if he made a brash deal to try to salvage a season (and thus his job). Even if his time with the Leafs were to come to an end, he’d likely hope to pursue GM work elsewhere, and a bad rep (from a bad, selfish trade) wouldn’t help his case. Burke still gives props to JFJ for draft picks he made that are still with the team. We might not always like his decisions, but you’d be crazy to question this guys integrity. I don’t think he makes the Luongo deal unless it’s a salary dump trade that benefits the team. The tempatation to grab that legit #1 goalie is strong, but I believe he’s being honest when he says they’d be willing to go another year with Riemer if necessary.